U.S.-based battery swapping firm Ample has launched its first modular battery swap stations in Madrid, marking the company’s entry into the European market. Several of the stations are already operational, with more planned across the Spanish capital in the coming months.
Designed for quick urban deployment, Ample’s stations can be installed in just three days and are aimed at addressing key hurdles to EV adoption in cities—namely long charging times, range anxiety, and limited infrastructure space. The company says its battery swapping technology offers a full vehicle recharge in five minutes by automatically replacing depleted batteries with fully charged ones, without requiring driver involvement.
“This grant is a tremendous step forward for Ample and the electric mobility space in Spain,” said Ample CEO Khaled Hassounah. “By partnering with the Spanish government, we are not just meeting the immediate infrastructure needs of Madrid’s growing population, but also laying the groundwork for a future-proof, sustainable urban mobility ecosystem.”
Battery swapping has been identified as a core component of Spain’s strategy to achieve 5.5 million EVs on the road by 2030 and cut emissions in urban areas by 65%. Madrid, which currently leads the nation in EV registrations, is accelerating its infrastructure rollout to meet climate goals.
Ample is also deepening its partnership with Stellantis through a new carsharing initiative in Madrid. The project, which uses swappable Fiat 500e vehicles, brings together Stellantis’ Fiat brand, its Free2move mobility service, and Free2move Charge charging infrastructure. The carsharing fleet will rely on Ample’s swap stations to maintain high availability and uptime.
Ample previously launched battery swap stations in Tokyo in collaboration with Mitsubishi Fuso and Mitsubishi Motors, focusing on logistics and commercial use. Its latest station design, unveiled in 2023, allows vehicles to drive straight through the facility—an approach intended to enhance efficiency for fleet operations compared to rival systems.